Story
In the late 18th and early 19th century sentimental and memorial themes were integrated into almost every aspect of jewelry. Lockets, rings, miniature portrait pendants, brooches and even stick pins were embellished with an attribute which signified love or sorrow.
When the image of an eye was in a memorial piece, it was typically placed in the sky or within clouds to symbolize that the individual was no longer of this earth. Rings incorporating a lover’s eye are the rarest of the genre and we of The Three Graces have had only one other ring in our history. This one, circa 1790 displays the elongated form, popular only in the late 18th century when it passed from favor for a more petite and curvaceous configuration.
Of an unusual large size, the ring is crafted in rose gold and has a natural half seed pearl border (untested but assumed natural due to age and examination). Exceptionally well painted in watercolor on ivory is the right blue eye of a lady. Ash brown lashes outline the top and lower eyelid. A touch of pinkish-red provides a shadow-like effect. Above the eye is a perfectly arched eyebrow of matching ash brown. Barely perceptible is the hint of blue sky set amid the rolling clouds. Over the miniature is a glass cover with beveled edges.
For similar examples see page 11 in "Sentimental Jewellery" by Ann Louise Luthi and page 164 in “Georgian Jewelry" by Dawes and Collings.